Manny Pacquiao vs Chris Algieri Preview, Predictions & Stats

One of the most decorated and celebrated boxers of the modern era, Manny Pacquiao will return to action on November 22nd, as he takes on undefeated (20-0) decision artist Chris Algieri. “Pac Man” will be fighting for only the third time in two years when he faces “The King Of New York” in Macau, as his illustrious career begins to inevitably slow in activity.

As you can see Pacquiao is once again at a height and reach disadvantage, but this hasn’t stopped him in the past. The fiery Filipino has never backed away from a challenge, although it’s almost annoying that the superfight with Floyd Mayweather Jr. will likely never happen. Anyway, Freddie Roach, Pacquiao’s trainer, says that speed and skill will be the difference on fight night:

“He’s a tough kid and he’s strong,” Roach told the Philippine Star. “He doesn’t have the speed and the skills Manny has. But he has the power. “A lot of the guys we fought in the past are retired now,” Roach said. “We’re fighting the new generation. Rios was the first step. And then Bradley. These guys are younger and hungrier.”

Algieri clearly has the basic physical advantages of strength, height and reach, but what he is lacking is pure speed. He has some great technical boxing skills, but you have to think that Pacquiao will really turn up the heat with his fast hands and excellent footwork. Perhaps the seven-pound leap from light-welter up to welterweight will see some improved power for Algieri, but I’d be foolish to say that a fighter with less than 50 percent KO’s is going to finish “Pac Man”.

Not only this, I think that “The King Of New York” is taking such a huge step up in competition to face “Pac Man”. His biggest test to date, Emmanuel Taylor, was a great showing for Algieri, but his follow up against Ruslan Provodnikov was a close split decision. It seems that even in his strength of winning decisions, Algieri cuts it close sometimes, and that won’t fly with a world-beating, eight-weight champion like Pacquiao.

All considered, I’m picking Pacquiao to take a unanimous decision over Algieri on November 22nd. Take a trip down to the bookies and you’ll be met by an average spread of -1200 for Pacquiao to win, as opposed to Algieri’s +650….

I'm a fan of pretty much every sport that is televised, talked about, thought about or acted out. I follow football, MMA and boxing more than any other , but you'll also find me watching, or partaking in just about every mainstream pursuit, and then some.